Our Team

Ocean Exchange Team

Chris Coyle

Founder and CEO, Futurist TAO

Chris Coyle is an accomplished executive with diverse cross-functional experience spanning multiple industries.

He began his work in blue technology in 2017 while consulting Exocetus Autonomous Systems on their Semi-Final XPRIZE entry mapping the ocean. Later, during Covid, he launched TAO Consultants to handle more clients and areas of focus including: OptimiLab (Cyber/Multi Layered Security), Spectronn (Mesh Communication Networks, AI/ML/Edge, Data/Video Analysis, Natural Language) and Nonvoice (5G/AR/VR App Distribution). In addition, he’s a mentor/advisor with Newchip (Austin) StartBlue Accelerator (Scripps-San Diego), MassChallenge/401 Tech Bridge (New England Innovation Hub), Seaworthy Collective (Miami), Cape Fear Ocean Labs (Wilmington, NC Blue Makerspace), Tech Transfer NYC (DOD) and BlueInvest (EU’s Ocean Fund). Furthermore, he is an Ambassador with the NSIN (National Security Innovation Network), a Steward with the Council for Inclusive Capitalism, a U.S. Delegate to the UN’s Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development and a Member of the UNDOS Artic Ocean Action Planning Group. 

On May 8, 2018, he testified before the U.S. Congressional House Subcommittee on Transportation and Infrastructure on the use of Blue Technology to Improve Efficiency, Performance, Duration and Cost for the Coast Guard. House Resolution (HR 6206): Coast Guard Blue Technology Center of Expertise Act was passed by the 115th Congress in June and signed into law by President Trump on October 11th as part of The Save Our Seas Act of 2018.

He is a highly sought-after speaker on Emerging Tech, Circular Economies, and Data & Analytics. Chris has presented at AlgaEurope 2021, the Consortium for Ocean Leadership, the UN’s Ocean Data Challenge, the Coast Guard’s Blue Tech Expo at the Department of Homeland Security, The Maritime Alliance Blue Tech Week, the Army Capability Accelerator’s Challenge Summit, the World Ocean Council (Halifax, Nova Scotia) and G-STIC’S (Global Scientific, Technology Innovation Conference) in Belgium. 

Prior to this, Chris spent 20 years in various executive management roles in the media, entertainment & music industry helping take two companies public (AIM & NASDAQ) and selling another to ROVI. He has extensive experience licensing IP and content (Universal, Sony, Warner Bros, CBS, Disney/ESPN) cross multiple platforms (television, internet, mobile).

Contact Us

Ocean Exchange invites you to learn more about Awards Program, our ecosystem and success of our award winners and participants. Together, we can chart a powerful course to help ensure the future of our oceans and the Blue Economy.

“Ocean Exchange has a platform to enable people with information that they need to know about the ocean and then to showcase new technologies that are on the forefront of really helping the ocean and the planet.”

“The quality of the content and the people who are involved with Ocean Exchange is all high end.”

“Besides funding, Ocean Exchange provides access to a wide area network of incredibly talented people in organizations that really do just want to help people.”

“Ocean Exchange is really about helping the little guys grow and in so doing, helping the big guys be better ocean citizens.”

“Ocean Exchange seems to be much more focused on bringing to light under-capitalized, wonderful new technology ideas. And it’s all about two-way access to this new technology and to the people who can help with the experience to grow that technology.”

“Ocean Exchange is a force multiplier to enable sustainable innovation.”

“Ocean Exchange is a global, novel innovation forum that has a greater ability to attract a broader range of impactful stakeholders than any other event that’s out there.”

“Unquestionably, one of Ocean Exchange’s primary strengths is how it brings together people from different paths. That makes its event a delegator experience as well as experience for an innovator or awards nominee.”

“Ocean Exchange is entirely different from any of the other organizations that I’m involved in. It is about sustainable innovation. I think it’s also very different in the extremely broad range of stakeholders that it involves.”

“There’s nothing better than going to an event or engaging with people so you walk away and say, ‘Wow!’”